Trial Plants - 2011 Update

Last year my friend in Nebraska at Bluebird Nursery sent me a variety of plants to try out. I've neglected to do a post about how they are doing this year until today. Not all of the plants survived their first summer with me and some didn't survive the winter here. This is a report on those that did make it.

Above is the phlox Natascha. They are loved by the ground hogs so must be surrounded by chicken wire to protect them. Last year only one of the three bloomed, but this year all three are blooming. Two of them are shown above. (Click on the photo to enlarge.) I am very pleased with how well they are doing. And the color is beautiful.

These are the heucheras - Snow Angel. They are not much bigger from last year and have yet to send up their flower stalks. They are a lovely color and I'll let them be in this location.

These hecheras are called Limelight. I lost one over the winter and these are struggling. It makes me wonder if they are too shaded in this location.

These are Carmel heucheras. I've seen this type in full sun as very large plants and again I'm wondering if my location in the glen garden in front of hostas is holding back their growth.

Last year all three Pink Cloud hibiscus were planted in this location. This spring I transplanted two of them to the perennial garden where they are growing well. This one gets full sun and has set some buds.

The ones in the perennial garden get less sun so buds have yet to set. But Japanese beetles have been munching on them. Yuck!


Here are the previous posts on Trial Plants:
Arrival,
Update 1
Update 2
Update 3
Update 4

Hibiscus & Other Trial Plants

These are the three hibiscus stems (Pink Cloud) I got from my friend in Nebraska at Bluebird Nursery to try out. They are no longer stems but a thriving bush.

The flowers are the size of plates. Don't you love that color?





I sprayed them with liquid fence yesterday since I did see some deer munching had happened.

I plan to enjoy this for years to come.

I've lost two of the plant varieties I was trying out: the geranium Dark Reiter and the Geum Koi. Our very hot humid summer took its toll on them. Below is the Phlox Natascha with its ground hog protection. Of the three I got this one has bloomed the most because even though they are just a bed apart this one probably gets a little more sun.

The Heuchera Snow Angel below loves its location.

More Heucheras: these are Limelight, followed by Carmel. I moved them to this lower light location and they seem to be doing well.


Last but not least is the Scutellaria with its tiny blue flowers.

If you are interested in any of these varieties check out Bluebird Nursery.

Update on Trial Plants

Most of the plants are doing well that I got from Nebraska. The phlox is the only one that is lagging in its growth - at least 2 of the 3 are kind of spindly.

Plant Trial Part 3

Heuchera Carmel

Phlox Natascha

Heuchera Limelight

Geum Koi

Huechera Snow Angel

Hibiscus Pink Clouds

Geranium Dark Reiter

Scutellaria

Plant Trial - Part 2 the hibiscus

I had to find a location in full sun for the three hibiscus plants I got from Sherilynn. I decided to put them near the front entrance. See that rock?

I rolled it over and dug a hole there for them. I marked it with a stake so the mower guys down weed whack it. It's too windy today to spray liquid fence, but I will need to in order for the deer to stay away.

Plant Trial - Part 1 Arrival and Planting

My friend from Nebraska, Sherilynn, has asked that I test some perennials in my garden. She owns a greenhouse/nursery and is interested in how these plants will do in various climates. The plants arrived today and I unpacked them and promptly put them all into my garden except the hibiscus which I need to find the proper spot for.



Fedex did not due the best job keeping the box upright. The plants were a bit of a jumble.

I carefully removed them to the table and mat where I have my seedlings at present.


I think this is three Geum Koi which will have orange flowers.

These two are Huechera Snow Angel with variegated foliage. I have two other types of Heuchera so I hope these do well.

This is one of three Phlox Natascha - striped flowered phlox. I'll need to use liquid fence on it soon as the deer love to eat my phlox. I better put a cage over it too to keep the ground hog off it.

These are three Scutellaria Smoky Hills - blue flowers. They did not do well in transport.

Here are three Geranium Dark Reiter. I tired perennial geraniums before but they didn't survive the winter. We'll see how these do.

I'll keep you post on their progress.